Former Honeywell
International CEO Michael Bonsignore talked about the success and leadership
after the major 1999 merger of Allied Signal and Honeywell during a video interview
titled, Master the Art of Corporate Reinvention. Honeywell, at the
time was going through many changes and struggles. Michael Bonsignore stresses the
importance of communication and how vital teamwork is within the organization.
This mentality and work ethics is a testament of the success which Honeywell
has seem. Mr. Bonsignore approach to keeping his employees accountable and rewarding
their hard work was instrumental to their success. According to Brown (2011), “if
the situation allows, managers can arrange promotions, monetary rewards, or
public recognition for those who participate in the change program” (Brown, 2011,
p. 157). This is a resource which CEO Michael Bonsignore effectively used.
However, with the implantation of change there are always some barriers that
will arise. Mr. Bonsignore strong and head first approach was effective, but
many had to change old habits to meet new ones. Additionally, implementing new
norms and culture after the merger could be a long and hard task; he refers
this to “Kick in the seat of the pants". Communication is a critical to
success and must not be overlooked; this is paramount to the success of the
merger. Bonsignore’s 30 years with Honeywell, has giving him the experience necessary
to take Honeywell to the next level. His accessibility to his people and involvement
helped him get credibility and trust within his management team and employees. He points out the importance of being
adaptable in spite of “challenging circumstances”. I believe this a great quality of leader that
we all look up to.
In summary, there are many takeaways from this
interview. Leaders must be ready for change and have the courage to reward and
keep his employees accountable for their part. Leaders should also be
trustworthy, humble and open to the feedback and ideas of their team. Finally,
be able to overcome adversity and lead from the front.
References
Bonsignore, M. (2011).
Mastering the Art of Corporate Reinvention. Retrieved from http://digital.films.com/play/GWEU7L
Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall. Brown, D. R. (2011). An experiential approach to organization
development (8th ed.).
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